St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-17

MISS MARY BAIER ity. The scribe was
made welcome, and in few moments was
ushered into the presence of the
famous faster. An eIghteen-year old
brunette, tastefully attired, reclined in
an invald's chair and made the reporter
welcome. The caller was informed that he
was the first newspaper representative who
had been permitted to see Miss Baker. the
family being very sensitive to newspaper
reports. Miss Baker is of German parent
age, but speaks both German and English
very fluentlY. Her weight previous to the
fast was 1873 pounds, and she does not ap-
pear to have lost flesh very perceptibly.
The young lady talked very freely about
her fast, but did not venture to give any
explanation of the cause which led to it.
Il have worked out most of my life," said
the patient, because l could enjoy life
better than at home. l have always been
very active, and have been considered
something of romp."
SIS there any truth in the report that
your fast was prompted by unrequited
love?" queried the reporter.
IN OF bit of it. sir, !" and the bright eyes
of the faster flashed dangerously. Il
wouldn't fast 105 days for the best man on
earth. and if l wanted to marry L would
marry and be done with it,"
Miss Baker impressed the reporter as
being above the average in intelligence and
of very determined disposition. The fam
lily physician, who has watched the case
closely, told the reporter that Miss Baker
enjoyed good health prior to January, 1886.
She has always suffered from slight pain
in the left hypochondriac region, and has
always been light eater, having frequently
finished her meals before other members of
the family had fairly commenced. Miss
Baker was treated for nervous troubles at
different times until Oct. II, 1886, when
she was given vial Of valerian to be taken
in doses of fifteen drops. While alone
the patient took several doses at
once, and sank into sleep which
lasted i've days and nights. On
awakening she was given twenty-four
ounces Of water which was at once elected
from the stomach, and thereafter for
period of one hundred days the patient
could retain neither food nor water upon
her stomach and did not experience sense
of hunger, the smell of food even being
offensive to her. All the senses were very
| acute. She could tell visitors to her room
after meal just what they had eaten.
| The contact of food with her stomach gave
| rise to a spaSm, beginning at the cardiac
! end of the organ and extending through
the whole body. During the spasms the
| pain in the patients left side increased and
was only relieved by the pressure of hands.
! When the wood stove door was opened the
faster complained of a gas which nearly
smothered her.
Since the 105 day period Miss Baker has
eaten small quantities of food with occa-
sional relapses. Emaciation is most per-
ceptible about the waist and hips. Until
| two weeks ago the patient could not speak
| above a whisper. AS no physician had yet
ventured to assign any cause for this WON
derful fast the reporter querried Dr. Clay
ton on this point.
Il have had no doubt about the diagnosis at
any time" said the doctor; 1.-The fast was
caused by nervous proStration and foreign
growth i'll the stomach"